More than 130 imams and Islamic religious leaders from across the UK have refused to say funeral prayers for the perpetrators of Saturday’s terror attack in London.
In a statement on Monday, religious figures from different schools of Islam expressed “shock and utter disgust at these cold-blooded murders,” adding: “We will not perform the traditional Islamic funeral prayer over the perpetrators and we also urge fellow imams and religious authorities to withdraw such a privilege. This is because such indefensible actions are completely at odds with the lofty teachings of Islam.”
The highest-ranking Muslim officer in the Metropolitan Police, Mak Chishty, called for a “a step-change – a different direction and a different movement to counter the scourge of terrorism, extremism and hatred that we have in our communities at present” in a statement read with leaders of London’s Muslim community outside Scotland Yard.
Chishty added: “It is the Islamic duty of every Muslim to be loyal to the country in which they live. We are now asking questions to understand how extremism and hatred has taken hold within some elements of our own communities.”
Harun Khan, the secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain organization, said: “That is why we agree with the prime minister that things must change. Enough is enough. We are ready to have those difficult conversations, as equal citizens with an equal stake in this fight.”
Mehri Niknam of the Joseph Interfaith Foundation for Jews and Muslims added: “To condemn is only half way. We must also actively confront loudly and clearly.”
